Moose

Alces alces

Written by Kathy Richards and edited by Chris Coyle

The Moose is the largest member of the deer family.  It stands 6½  to 7 feet at the shoulder and is 7-9 feet long.  Males weigh 900-1400 pounds, females 700-1100 pounds.

Moose superior USDA Forest Service, Public domain

The moose head on display at the center had been stored in the blacksmith shop on East River Street in Orange which burned in 2022.

HABITAT:

Its range has been expanding from norther New England to Massachusetts and is now expanding into Connecticut.  Also found in Canada, northern Minnesota, the upper peninsula of Michigan, the Rocky Mountains, the Continental Divide in Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.  It prefers second growth boreal forests near water.  Forests with young aspen, white birch, and balsam fir are preferred.  In the winter it prefers hardwood/conifer forests.

BEHAVIOR:

Moose are most active at night but it is not uncommon to see them during the day.  They are mostly solitary in the summer.

It is a common sight to see moose in a swamp wading or submerged eating aquatic plants.  This provides relief from mosquitos and black flies.  More moose are found in disturbed areas (i.e. logging, fire, earthquake).

They are good swimmers and can swim up to 2 hours.  During rutting season males are more vocal.  They can move quietly up to 35 mph.  They will seek out salt licks and will lick the ground for salts near their mud wallows.   

FOOD:

Water lilies and other semi-aquatic plants.  They prefer new growth in disturbed areas (i.e. blowdowns, clear cuts, fire, etc.).  Moose are twig-eaters and will also eat buds, bark, and leaves of balsam fir, birch, maple, willow, and other deciduous trees as well as grass, moss, lichens, mushrooms, and shrubs.  In the winter, they eat mostly conifers, but also aspen, mountain maple, pin cherry, and beech.  They prefer young forests that are growing back from a disturbance such as clear-cutting.

PREDATORS:

People.  Winter ticks will deplete blood supply due to the high numbers attached.  Wolves are also predators of moose.